Ballast compacting and leveling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pair of ballast compactors arranged for compacting the two outer lateral portions of a ballast bed and a ballast leveler arranged to level the central ballast bed portion are carried by a common vibratory cross beam. The vibrator for the beam is arranged centrally thereof.

United States Patent 1 Schenkir et al.

BALLAST COMPACTING AND LEVELING APPARATUS Inventors: Ludwig Schenkir; Josef Dultinger,

both of Perchtoldsdorf, Austria Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen- Industriegesellschaft m.b.H., Vienna, Austria Filed: July 27, 1971 Appl. No.: 166,493

Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 20, 1970 Austria ..7550/70 U.S. Cl. ..37/104, 104/2, 104/12 Int. Cl. .L ..E0lb 37/00 Field of Search ..104/12, 2; 37/104, 37/105 I00 //b 4 3 )la 2 llb I la 3 4 1 May 8, 1973 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,610,157 10/1971 Plokhotsky et al. 104/12 3,624,936 8/1969 Yard ...37/104 1,874,559 8/1932 Love ...104/12 3,034,236 5/1962 Pyke ..37/104 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerRichard A. Bertsch AttorneyKurt Kelman [57] ABSTRACT A pair of ballast compactors arranged for compacting the two outer lateral portions of a ballast bed and a ballast leveler arranged to level the central ballast bed portion are carried by a common vibratory cross beam. The vibrator for the beam is arranged centrally thereof.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BALLAST COMPACTING AND LEVELING APPARATUS The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for compacting and leveling the ballast ofa railroad track.

The ballast bed of a railroad track consists of two lateral portions outwardly adjacent the track and a central portion therebetween underneath the track, the track consisting of two rails fastened to ties supported on the central ballast portion. In known apparatus for compacting and leveling such a ballast bed, it has been proposed to arrange a pair of ballast compacting means arranged for compacting the lateral ballast portions separately and longitudinally spaced from a ballast leveling means arranged to level the central ballast portion. Since the compacting and leveling means are spaced in the direction of track elongation, the ballast is first compacted and then leveled, i.e. any ballast resting on the ties is swept back into the cribs between the ties or placed there by a ballast plow. Considerable power is required to move such an apparatus along the track to overcome the resistance of the ballast to be leveled which is encountered by the leveling means. Furthermore, the leveling effect is often unsatisfactory.

It is the primary object of this invention to overcome these disadvantages and to provide a simple, sturdy, continuously operating ballast compacting and leveling apparatus requiring relatively little power for advancement on the track while producing a high-quality leveled ballast bed.

These and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention by providing a common vibratory beam extending transversely of the track and carrying the ballast compacting means and the ballast leveling means in a single unit. The vibrating means for the beam is arranged centrally of the beam.

In this arrangement, the ballast compactors and the ballast levelers are vibrated. This has the advantage that the ballast immediately ahead of the ballast leveling means is vibrated and thus fluidized so that relatively little force is required to move it off the ties.

According to a preferred feature, the beam is mounted on a frame running on the track for vibratory motion .in respect thereto, the frame being preferably freely suspended on the frame, and tension springs biased in the direction of vibration of the beam interconnect the beam and the frame.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each ballast compacting means comprises a ballast tamping plate extending transversely to the beam and immersible in a respective lateral ballast portion, each ballast tamping plate being preferably adjustable to extend obliquely in respect of the track. The direction of the vibration being horizontal and transverse to the track, the immersed ballast tamping plates will effectively compact the ballast in the respective lateral ballast portions, which tamping effect is increased by the slightly oblique adjustment of the plates whereby the obliquely extending plates tend to press the ballast inwardly as the apparatus advances on the track, the plates enclosing an acute angle with the track in the operating direction of the apparatus.

The compaction of the ballast will be further improved by the provision of a ballast compacting plate for each ballast compacting means to engage the surface of the ballast. The ballast compacting plate is vertically adjustably mounted on the beam. Spring means between the beam and the ballast compacting plate is biased to press the ballast compacting plate against the ballast surface, and the ballast tamping plate extends downwardly from the ballast compacting plate. This will largely prevent the tamped ballast from escaping upwardly and this increases the compaction of the ballast.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of a now preferred embodiment theory, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a front view, partially in section, along line II of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus; and

FIG. 3 shows a modified detail of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts functioning in a like manner in all figures, there is shown a ballast bed 1 which supports a track consisting of ties 2 and rails 3, 3 fastened to the ties. A chassis or frame 5 is mounted on the track for mobility thereon, flanged wheels 4 of the frame running on the track rails. Support rods 6 freely suspend transversely extending beam 7 on the frame for vibratory motion in respect thereto in a horizontal direction transverse of the track, as indicated by double-headed arrow B. A vibrator 8, for instance a motor with an eccentric shaft, is arranged centrally of beam 7 for vibrating or oscillating the same. Tension springs 9 interconnect the beams 7 and frame 5, the springs being biased in the direction of vibration so as to maintain a tension between the vibrating beam and the frame. At its respective ends, the beam carries a pair of ballast compacting means 10 for compacting the lateral ballast portions, and a ballast leveling means 11 is carried by the beam intermediate the ends thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the ballast leveling means comprises plow-like plates arranged laterally adjacent each track rail on both sides thereof, the lower edges of the ballast leveling plates being arranged for engagement with the ties to sweep ballast therefrom into the cribs.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, resilient blocks 7a, for instance of rubber, connect the ballast compacting means 10 to the beam 7. Each compacting means comprises a ballast tamping plate 10a extending transversely to the beam, and thus to the direction of vibration thereof, and immersible in a respective one of the lateral ballast portions during operation of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, each ballast tamping plate may be adjusted to extend slightly obliquely in respect of the track, enclosing an acute angle with the track in the direction of advancement of the apparatus along the track, as indicated by arrow A.

As shown, the ballast compacting means 10 further comprises a horizontally extending ballast compacting plate 10b whence the ballast tamping plate 10a extends downwardly into the ballast, the compacting plate 10b engaging the surface of the ballast in a respective lateral ballast portion adjacent the track. The ballast compacting plate 10b is vertically adjustably mounted on beam 7 and compression springs 12 are arranged between the beam and the plate 10b so biased as to press the ballast compacting plate 10b against the ballast surface.

In the modification of FIG. 3, a pair of hydraulic motors 7b, 7b are connected between the vibratory carrier beam 7 and the ballast compacting means 10 to enable the same to be moved into a desired oblique position in respect of the beam.

The ballast leveling means comprises a plurality of ballast plow plates 1 1 extending in substantially vertical planes and each having a lower edge for engaging the track ties so as to sweep ballast off the ties as the apparatus advances in the direction of arrow A. Four plow plates are illustrated, two laterally adjacent each rail, so as to extend over the entire length of the ties. The plates are vertically adjustably mounted on the vibratory beam 7 and their lower edges are preferably elastically deformable, for instance by mounting rubber strips 11b thereon. This provides a yielding engagement with ballast on the ties. As the apparatus moves in the direction of arrow A, the plow plates 11 will sweep ballast off the ties. The position of the plow plates 11 is adjustable so as to extend obliquely to the direction of the track, and in the adjusted position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, the plow plates will sweep the ballast towards the rails 3 into the cribs during advancement of the apparatus. The compacting means 16 will simultaneously tamp and compact the ballast in the lateral portions adjacent the track, effective operation being assured by the vibration as well as the oblique positioning of tamping plates 10a.

Since the entire apparatus is of comparatively light weight, severe operating conditions may lift it off the track or tilt it over. This may be prevented, if found desirable, by providing clamping rollers (not shown) which engage the rail heads and keep the frame securely on the track.

Furthermore, the plow plates 11 may be brought into any desired position, for instance they may be so adjusted that they will sweep the ballast towards the center of the track, rather than in the direction of the rails. Also, two sets of plow plates may be provided, a second set of plates 110 being shown in FIG. 2 in broken lines, with the first set being adjusted to sweep the ballast towards the rails and the succeeding set being adjusted to sweep the ballast towards the center so that uniform distribution of the ballast is assured. Finally, a rotary broom or like sweeping means (not shown) may be additionally carried by the vibratory beam 7.

It is within the scope of this invention to dispense with the mobile frame and to mount the vibratory beam 7 directly on track rails 3, 3. in this case, suitable guides, such as rollers, laterally engage the rails to guide the apparatus along the track. The vibrating means may then be so arranged as to vibrate the track ties, too, so that the vibrating ties themselves aid-in the compaction of the ballast.

The apparatus may be constructed as a light-weight v self-propelled vehicle or it may be mounted on the frame of any conventional railroad track maintenance machine, for instance a combined track lining, leveling and tamping machine.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for compacting and leveling the ballast of a railroad track, the ballast consisting of two lateral portions outwardly adjacent the track and a central portion therebetween underneath the track, the apparatus comprising l a pair of bal ast compacting means arranged for compacting the lateral ballast portions;

2. a ballast leveling means arranged to level the central ballast portion;

3. a common vibratory beam extending transversely of the track and carrying the ballast compacting means and the ballast leveling means;

4. a vibrating means arranged centrally of the beam for vibrating the beam;

5. a frame mounted on the track for mobility thereon, the beam being mounted on the frame for vibratory motion in respect thereto; and

6. tension springs interconnecting the beam and the frame, the tension springs being biased in the direction of vibration of the beam.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beam is freely suspended on the frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the ballast compacting means comprises a ballast tamping plate extending transversely to the beam and immersible in a respective one of the lateral ballast portions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the ballast tamping plate is adjustable to extend obliquely in respect of the track.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the ballast compacting means further comprises a ballast compacting plate arranged to engage the'surface of the ballast in a respective one of the lateral ballast portions, the ballast compacting plate being vertically adjustably mounted on the beam, and spring means between the beam and the ballast compacting plate biased to press the ballast compacting plate against the ballast surface, and the ballast tamping plate extending downwardly from the ballast compacting plate 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ballast leveling means comprises a plurality of ballast leveling plates vertically adjustably mounted on the beam, the ballast leveling plates being arranged laterally adjacent each track rail, and the lower edge of each ballast leveling plate being elastically deformable.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising rubber strip means on the lower edge of each ballast leveling plate for imparting elasticity thereto.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ballast leveling plates are adjustable to extend obliquely to the direction of the track. 

1. An apparatus for compacting and leveling the ballast of a railroad track, the ballast consisting of two lateral portions outwardly adjacent the track and a central portion therebetween underneath the track, the apparatus comprising 1 a pair of ballast compacting means arranged for compacting the lateral ballast portions;
 2. a ballast leveling means arranged to level the central ballast portion;
 3. a common vibratory beam extending transversely of the track and carrying the ballast compacting means and the ballast leveling means;
 4. a vibrating means arranged centrally of the beam for vibrating the beam;
 5. a frame mounted on the track for mobility thereon, the beam being mounted on the frame for vibratory motion in respect thereto; and
 6. tension springs interconnecting the beam and the frame, the tension springs being biased in the direction of vibration of the beam.
 2. a ballast leveling means arranged to level the central ballast portion;
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beam is freely suspended on the frame.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the ballast compacting means comprises a ballast tamping plate extending transversely to the beam and immersible in a respective one of the lateral ballast portions.
 3. a common vibratory beam extending transversely of the track and carrying the ballast compacting means and the ballast leveling means;
 4. a vibrating means arranged centrally of the beam for vibrating the beam;
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the ballast tamping plate is adjustable to extend obliquely in respect of the track.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the ballast compacting means further comprises a ballast compacting plate arranged to engage the surface of the ballast in a respective one of the lateral ballast portions, the ballast compacting plate being vertically adjustably mounted on the beam, and spring means between the beam and the ballast compacting plate biased to press the ballast compacting plate against the ballast surface, and the ballast tamping plate extending downwardly from the ballast compacting plate
 5. a frame mounted on the track for mobility thereon, the beam being mounted on the frame for vibratory motion in respect thereto; and
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ballast leveling means comprises a plurality of ballast leveling plates vertically adjustably mounted on the beam, the ballast leveling plates being arranged laterally adjacent each track rail, and the lower edge of each ballast leveling plate being elastically deformable.
 6. tension springs interconnecting the beam and the frame, the tension springs being biased in the direction of vibration of the beam.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising rubber strip means on the lower edge of each ballast leveling plate for imparting elasticity thereto.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ballast leveling plates are adjustable to extend obliquely to the direction of the track. 